[08/04/2017, Strasbourg] ‘We must break the cycle of ignorance and anti-Gypsyism’

[08/04/2017, Strasbourg] ‘We must break the cycle of ignorance and anti-Gypsyism'

General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance makes a declaration on the occasion of International Roma Day

"Discrimination against and exclusion of Roma and Travellers must give way once and for all to recognition and inclusion" said Milena Santerini (Italy, SOC), General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance, on the occasion of International Roma Day (8 April 2017). "On this day of commemoration, we should commit ourselves to engaging actively in promoting better knowledge of the culture and history of Roma and Travellers and improving intercultural coexistence."

"As the Assembly underlined in its recent Resolution 2153 (2017), nobody's life chances should be determined by their ethnic origin," Ms Santerini stressed.

"Integrating Roma and Travellers is in everyone's interests, and more and more States are adopting strategies to this effect. But for such initiatives to have a lasting impact, it is crucial to fight anti-Gypsyism and combat prejudices and stereotypes. Today more than ever, I invite national parliaments, political leaders and citizens to mobilise against anti-Gypsyism and all forms of racism and intolerance," she concluded.